merithew



(No Model.) 8 sheets-s118888.

Z W. MTRITHEW,

A TRUIT 1318188.` No; 882,817; v A Patented MaJ-y 8,8888.

ATTORNEYS, v Y

N4 PETERS, pmwlumngmyhr. wilmngrm uc.

UNITED STATES PATENT zAoHEUs WELLs MEEITHEW, E GEAND viEvv, INDIANA,AssIGNoE OF ONEEALE To LOEEN E. GAGE, or sAME PLAGE.

FRUIT-amsn.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,617, dated May1888.

Application tiled October 18, 1887. Serial No. 252,704. "(N-o model.)

T0 all whom it mag/ concern.'A v Beit known that I, ZAoHEUs WEL-Ls MEELTHEW, of Grand View, in the county of Spencer and State of Indiana,haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Driers, of

` which the following is a specification.

Vs'o

My invention is an improved fruit-drier intended especiallyv foropen-air drying, and seeks among other improvements to provide a simpleconstruction by which ample scaffoldroom nay be provided for'the fruitlin good drying time or weather, and perfect inolosure of such fruit maybe effected through the aid of such scaffolding in bad weather.

construction and novel combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus open, aswhen infuse. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus closed, aswhen the fruit is inclosed. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of themain frame -or support, thesides being removed. Fig. 4

is a partial vertical section of the apparatus, showing one of the sidesclosed in full lines and open in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview illustrating the connection of the scaffold-frames with theremovable top, and Fig.,6 is a horizontal section of the main frame orsupport.

The main frame, or it may be termed the supp0rt, A, is formed of fourvertical cornerposts, B, which are connected together by cross-bars C,which cross-bars' are secured to the inner sides or edges of said postsin order to provide recesses at D, in from the outer edges of the'posts,which recesses receive the framing and folding uprights of the hingedsides in the closed position of such parts. This supportA has guides orWays at c for the trays E, which guides are by preference formed in theconnecting-bars C, before described. It is preferred to arrange theguides for the trays in a plurality of series, embracing about four setsof guides in a series, and arranging the guides of each-series at rightangles to those of the adjacent series, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3.This arrangement has especial advantages, resulting in the iirst placein greater strength and rigidity in the main frame, `and alsofacilitating the insertion and removal of 5 having the folding uprightsG-.h'inged at one The invention consistsin certain features of en'd totheir lower or outer ends, and capable 0f being vfolded inlunder thesides when; the

apparatus is closed, as shown in Fig.y2, or out v to form uprightssupporting the outer ends of y thesides', as will be understood fromFig. 4.

Each of these sides is preferably constructed as shown, consisting ofthe frame-bars 1,`the Weather-boards 2, secured thereto, and the barspivoted to such frame-bars 1 and forming the' uprights G.

Thetrays E may be of any suitable construction, being fitted to thesupport A, as shown.

guides or ways of the The sides maybe closed, as shown in Fig. 2, l

in which case their framing and uprights are received in the recesses D;or such sides may be opened, as shown in Fig. 1 and illustrated in Fig.4, and be supported horizontally, or approximately so, by their uprightsG, arranged as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4. When so opened,I'place two of thetrays of fruit on each of the sides, removing suchtrays `from the support, as will befunderstood, the

top tray in the support being left therein, as

it will b e exposed to the sun, as will be understood, the top I beingremoved, as shown in Fig. 1. This top .comprises a top plate or board,t', side boards, J, having .slots oropenings j, and depending portionsK, which'serve 'as legs for vsuch top when it is removed from the mainframe or support.

The side boards, J, of the top or `cap form depending portions, whichoverlap the sides when the sides are closed' and the top is in place,and so serve tolocksuch sides in closedI position. f

IOC

The scaffold-frames L have horizontal bars Z fitted at one end to enteropenings j, and provided at such end with notches Z in their undersides,which engage the bottom walls of the openingsj, as will beunderstood from Fig. 5. Near their other ends the bars Z are connectedby a cross-bar, and have bars Z2 pivoted to them, so they may be-turnedinto the plane of said bars Z, or at right angles thereto, to form legs,as will be understood from said Fig. 5`.

Manifestly, the scaffold-frames may be e11- gaged at their inner endswith the top by siniply resting their inner ends thereon; but I preferthe construction of notches Z and openings j, as thereby a firmer andbetter connection is secured.

When the top is removed and the scaioldframe L connected therewith, it,with such frames, together with the support and the sides, opened asdescribed, will serve to supportthe trays of fruit, which may be removedfrom the main frame and placed on such parts, as shown inFig. 1, whereit will be subject to the influence of the sun, and so be quickly dried.

To house or shelter the fruit, as may be desired in the case of a suddenstorm, it is only necessary to replace the trays iu the main frame orsupport, close the sides, remove the scaffold-frames from the top, andplace such top on the main frame, as shown inFig. 2.

In case wet weather interferes with sun-drying the drier may be placedover a trench in the ground, a plate of sheet-iron being placed betweenthe trench and the drier, and re be built in the trench. y

It will be noticed that the sidesand top employed for providing thescaii`old-room for. the trays also serve to inclose and shelter saidtrays when so desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. In afruitadrier, the combination of a main frame or support, ways thereinfor the fruit-trays, the trays fitted to said ways and movable thereoninto and out of the drier, the sides fitted to the main frame and hingedat their upper ends to said frame, whereby they may be turned in toclose said frame or out t0 forni scaffolds whereon to support and exposethe trays, and supports whereby said sides may be held elevated whenopened, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a fruit-drier, the combination of the main frame or support havingways for the fruittrays, the removable top, the sides hinged at oneoftheir ends to the support, and uprights for securing the other ends ofthe sides elevated, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fruit-drier, the combination of the main frameorsupport,thesideshinged thereto, and consisting of the frame-bars l andthe Weatherboard sections secured to the outer sides of said bars, andthe upright bars hinged at one end alongside the framebars 1, wherebythe said uprights may be turned up alongside the frame-bars and againstthe weather-boards, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a fruit-drier, the main frame having guides or ways for thefruit-trays, such guides being arranged in a number of series, each ofsuch series being arranged at right angles to the adjacent ones,combined with the sides hinged at one end to the main frame, wherebythey may be turned outward from said frame, and supports for the outerends of said sides, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fruit-drier, the combination of the main frame or support havingways for the fruit-trays, the removable top, and the adjustable sidesarranged to be opened to form scaf folds whereby to support the traysfor openair drying, substantially as set forth.

6. In a fruit-drier, substantially as described, the removable topprovided with side boards having openings j, combined with thescaffoldframes having their bars l fitted at one end to enter saidopenings, and having such ends notched on their under sides at Z',substantially as set forth.

7. In a fruit-drier, the combination of the main frame or support, thesides hinged at one of their ends to said main frame or support, and thecap or top fitted on the support or main frame and `having dependingportions overlapping the sides in the closed positions thereof,substantially as set forth.

ZACHEUS WELLS MERITHEW.

Witnesses:

- J. G. FINcH,

J. L. HA'rFIELn.

